DIRECTOR OF COUNSELLING STUDENT WELLNESS CENTRE JOB SUMMARY: Queen s is committed to promoting optimal student wellness across the physical, mental and social dimensions of health to the university s increasingly diverse student population. The Director, Counselling is a member of Student Wellness Services (SWS) leadership team, reporting to the Executive Director (ED) SWS. The Director, Counselling contributes to strategic administrative, financial and staffing decisions, while overseeing the provision of professional counselling services to students. The Director ensures the availability of timely professional counselling for Queen s students with regard to their emotional equilibrium and personal development, performance skills enhancement, posttrauma relief, and related areas critical to student stability and success. The Director manages the professional operations of the Counselling Services unit, providing clinical supervision and leadership to the university s counselling staff located across the university. The Director oversees promotion and marketing of counselling services and ensures staffing commitments provide adequate service support, including response to after-hours issues. The Director also provides direct counselling services to his/her own caseload. The Director provides timely direction, guidance and expertise to others within the University community on counselling related issues, including education, referrals, stigma reduction, and crisis management and related issues of prevention and risk management. The Director works collaboratively with students, parents, staff, faculty members, student leaders, and community health service-providers to determine the most efficient and effective processes and practices that will support a student s holistic health and well-being, helping students optimize their learning capacity, reach their potential and achieve their goals in and outside the classroom. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Student Wellness Services portfolio: Member of the executive team of SWS with the ED SWS and Director, Medical Services Supports the ED in data management and reporting for the unit Supports wellness philosophy through effective communication and establishing working relationships with various stakeholders Acts for the ED, SWS in their absence, as required Collaborates with the Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs (DSA), DSA directors and managers, and other senior university administrators to promote the role and responsibilities of Counselling Services Page 1 of 5
Assumes project responsibilities as needed for new programs that involve and promote all units in SWS. Counselling Services Leadership: Implements quality management processes related to counselling services and resources Leads the Counselling Services unit, articulating the evolving mission, mandate, principles and contribution of Counselling Services within the SWS portfolio, and throughout the University Under the direction of the ED plans for adequate resource allocation, budget and quality management processes related to counselling resources Develops and evaluates objectives and outcomes for Counselling Services, ensuring they align and complement the objectives and desired outcomes of the SWS portfolio Ensures effective referral mechanisms are in place to facilitate student academic success Maintains an active caseload of individual clients for personal counselling, providing direct crisis intervention for students referred (or self-referred) with more severe risk or other emotional crisis Human Resources Management of Counselling Staff: Plans, prioritizes and manages the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching. Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating performance and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis Assesses staff training and development needs, and ensures that employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance Investigates, addresses and resolves employee/labour relations issues, including disciplinary matters. Makes decisions or effective recommendations on matters involving possible discipline, discharge and probationary termination Ensures that applicable legal/ethical standards are maintained with regard to confidentiality and other professional obligations Maintains awareness of counselling staff clinical caseloads and adjusts as needed to ensure staff well-being; actively seeks the input of team members Supports and promotes high quality training programs in counselling related to internships and practicums by accepting oversight of student interns and conducting training / educational opportunities. Facilitates positive team dynamics and role and mandate definition of individual practitioners and the Counselling team as a whole; helps redefine as necessary On-Campus Consultation and Crisis Intervention: Provides timely consultation for immediate responders to a student s personal crisis and ensures off-hours response mechanisms are in place and effective Facilitates post-trauma support for individuals or groups affected by a tragic, traumatic or otherwise distressing event, as needed Promotes and supports counselling programs/services across the campus by delivering educational sessions to faculty, staff and student leaders Develops and delivers occasional psycho-educational workshops or seminars, and leads development of self-help resources in print or on the Department website Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with the campus and broader communities, and professional organizations, as a representative of Counselling Services, SWS and the University Page 2 of 5
Contributes to institutional emergency response planning by being a member of the campus response teams, responsible for coordinating university response in the event of threat, death of a student, or risk of harm Informs all concerned parties regarding impacts and accommodation requirements after traumatic or crisis situations REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: A doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and a minimum of five years relevant experience in assessment and counselling of university student populations. Knowledge of relevant and best practice counselling techniques applicable to this population in an evolving field Knowledge of management principles and practices, include extensive case management experience Experience in personal crisis intervention and risk management Demonstrated strong human relations skills, including supervisory and leadership skills, with the ability to foster a collaborative team approach to service activities Sound knowledge of institutional support systems and the University structure, governance and decision making processes Satisfactory Criminal Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening required SPECIAL SKILLS: Excellent communication skills (written and oral), including assertion and tact Ability to share information in an effective and collaborative manner in a variety of situations and with audiences of differing needs and expectations Ability to successfully balance results-oriented focus with interpersonal relations considerations in complex, challenging situations while demonstrating respect, dignity and integrity Ability to function effectively in team situations both within and across departments and with other organizations to achieve optimal collective results through encouraging, supporting, coaching, developing and mentoring Proven ability to take the initiative to deal with issues of broad-ranging scope and impact in a timely and effective manner while taking appropriate risks to ensure complex issues are resolved or innovative solutions developed. Ability to handle complex, stressful situations with diplomacy, calmness and good judgment; ability to reduce workplace stressors for self and others Ability to adapt and respond to the changing and complex environment and constructively create opportunities for change through active and demonstrated initiative Strong customer service orientation, combined with demonstrated discretion and sound judgement in the handling of confidential information Demonstrated ability to carry out projects and initiatives to completion while working successfully with different types of people and competing priorities at many organizational levels Comprehensive understanding of and sensitivity to diversity and cultural issues DECISION MAKING: In consultation with the ED, makes budgetary and resource allocation decisions, including determining service priorities. Page 3 of 5
Determines how best to allocate limited time and resources to best serve the client population Determine types of supports and accommodations that are required for individual students Chooses appropriate diagnostic tools, assessment methods and other clinical interventions based on individual student need Identifies and recommends optimum methods for resolving issues and determines how to implement to achieve results Determines how to evaluate the quality and delivery of services provided by the Counselling Centre, including clinical quality assurance mechanisms Determines content for educational programs and other resources materials Exercises appropriate judgment in determining when to bring matters to the attention of the ED and provides recommendations for resolution Makes determinations as to whether a student may pose a danger to self or others and takes appropriate action to mitigate risk and harm Makes daily operational decisions and resolves administrative problems Develops plans and implements courses of action for self and others in dealing with anticipated changes Evaluates job candidates and makes effective recommendations on suitable hires Makes decisions and/or effective recommendations regarding transfers and promotions Evaluates employee performance and decides on appropriate training or coaching to address lack of proficiency in carrying out responsibilities, or remedial action for staff disciplinary situations Assesses investigation outcome of grievances and makes effective recommendations on appropriate course of action or next steps on grievances Makes effective recommendations on level of discipline up to discharge and probationary termination. To Apply: Please click http://www.queensu.ca/humanresources/apps/jps/external.php, search for competition 2015-133, and apply to the position following the instructions under the Application Procedure link. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, aboriginal people, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The University provides support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant's accessibility needs. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at hradmin@queensu.ca. To comply with Federal laws, the University is obliged to gather statistical information about how many applicants for each job vacancy are Canadian citizens/ permanent residents of Canada. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or citizenship, however, all applications must include one of the following statements: I am a Canadian citizen/permanent resident of Canada; OR, I am not a Canadian citizen/permanent Page 4 of 5
resident of Canada. Applications that do not include this information will be deemed incomplete. Page 5 of 5